Lamp socket



H. CAMMACK Get. 27, 1931.

LAMP SOCKET Filed Dec. 7, 1927 I HVEHTOE. /7 0/dC Cam/7240A PatentedOct. 27, 1931 HORACE Gammon, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI LAMP SOCKETApplication filed December 7, 1927. Serial No. 238,409.

My invention relates to electric lamp sockets and their mounting andconsists in a novel housing or case for enclosing the metal socket, intowhich the lamp is inserted,

' also enclosing the base on which the socket is mounted and includingmeans for attaching the case to a cord or cable leading to the socket.

Y My invention is particularly adapted for m use around shops, garages,etc,., where it is customary to have a lamp mounted on the end of a cordso that it may be handled conveniently-in connection with work beingper.- formed.

is The main object of my invention is to provide a mounting for thesocket which will completely insulate the latter and avoid thelikelihood of danger to users because of shock caused by direct contactwiththe-metal portion of the socket or because of contact through ametal tool or other conductor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a housing for the socketand its base which may be readily assembled with and 2 disassembledfrom-the same so that the socket base and housing may the easilyattached :to the cable.

Another object of my invention is to mount the socket base on aninsulated cable in such manner that the lamp may be handled freely andthe device pulled around promiscuously without any tension being placedupon the wiring stripped of insulation forattachment to the base.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention -Figure l-is,in part, a side elevation of my casing and, in part, a sectiontherethrough showing the socket "base and elements mounting the same inthe casing.

Figure-2 is a similar-viewshowing a modified structure.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a-topyiew illustratinga detail of my device.

Figuret is a view showing the partsof my device separated.

The metal socket Land the base 2 on which .50 it is mounted, mayberofany ordinary construction and typical elements are indicated, and itwill be understood that they are provided with mounting screws andcontact points in the usual manner. The base 2 has a shoulder 3, as iscustomary in devicesof this type.

My casingconsists of a hollow cylindrical member 4 formed of fibre,vulcanized rubber, or other insulating material and provided, on itsinterior surface, with an upwardly facing shoulder element 5 adapted tosupport the base 2 by engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder 3on the latter. I show a cable 6 of well known construction andconsisting of conducting wires 7 and reenforcing cords 8 embedded in andsurrounded by a solid mass of rubber 9. I provide a collar 10 of rubber,or other yielding material,

about cable '6 and above this collar I apply washer 11 and is supportedupon a second shoulder 13 provided on the inner surface of housing 4adjacent the upper end of collar 10. A spring clip, such as indicated at14, is detachably mounted in suitable openings provided in the wall ofthe casing and preferably the wall is undercut, as indicated at 15, sothat the clip may be distorted, as shown in Figure 4, to be held in theposition illustrated.

-By forcing clip 14: out of the depression '15 and compressing its ends,it may be removedfrom the casing, whereupon washer 12, cable -6, washer13, collar 10, the socket base 2, and the socket 1 may all be easilyremoved from the casing.

hen the parts are assembled with the casing, the socket base ispositively held against movement downwardly by its engagement withshoulder element 5 and it is held against movement upwardly by meanscomprising collar 10, washers 11 and 12, and clip 14. Any pull producedby the operator tugging a thin washer 11 of fibre .or other material 10sufficiently rigid for the purpose. The diameter of the opening inwasher 11 is slightly less than the outside diameter of cable 6 so thatthe elastic material of the latter must be slightly compressed at thepoint where it is surrounded by washer 11.

A heavy rigid washer 12 is applied above spaced from the place where theinsulation is stripped from the wires to prevent the separation of thelatter and their attachment to the terminals on the base.

The device shown in Figure 2 is substantially the same in constructionbut is pro vided' with an elongated housing 17 to facilitate handlingunder some circumstances, and requires a longer collar 18 correspondingto collar 10 for spacing the plug 19 from. the washer 20.

I illustrate my device as being provided with a snap switch operated bybuttons 21 projecting through the sides of the case 2 and 17. They maybe applied to the switch member 22 by being screwed ontoand off of thesame. By this arrangement, the base provided with a switch ofthis typemay be inserted in the-case and the switch buttons 21 then applied tothe portions of the switch assembled with the base. 7 Preferablyrecesses 23 are provided on th exterior surface of the case for theattachment of shades or guards, or the like, and it will be understoodthat these elements form no part of my invention, and the lamp may beused with or without them.

Obviously, the details of my invention may be modified without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and I contemplate the exclusive use of suchvariations as come within the scope of myclaims. r

I claim:

1. In a case for engaging an electric lamp socket and its base,longitudinally spaced shoulders on the inner surface of the case andfacing one end of the latter, one of said shoulders being adapted'toengage adownwardly. facing surface on a socket base, means for grippingan insulation cable, an element above sald means and engaging the latterand the other of said shoulders, and means detachably engaging the casewall near said end of the case for engaging the other side of saidelement. v i

2. In a case for engaging an electric lamp socket and its base,longitudinally spaced shoulders on the inner surface of the caseandfacing one end of'the latter, one of said shoulders being adapted toengage a' downwardly facing surface on a socket base, means for grlppmgan lnsulation cable, an element I above said means and engaging thelatter and the other of said shoulders, detachable means near said endof the case for engaging the other side of said element, and means forpreventing rotation of said base in said'case.

3. In combination, a hollow cylindrical case of insulating material, anelectric lamp socket base in said case and held against downwardmovement therein, wires secured to said base and covered with insulationof yielding material, a collar above said base and surrounding saidinsulation, a thin washer above said collar tightly fitting saidinsulation, a rigid member above said thin washer, and readilydetachable elements positively securing said member to said case.

4. In combination, a hollow cylindrical rigid case of insulatingmaterial and having an upwardly facin shoulder on its inner surface,'anelectric'lamp socket base in said case and having a downwardly facingshoulder resting on said case shoulder, wiring for said socket attachedto saidbase and covered with insulation of yieldingmaterial, a collarsurrounding said wiring and insulation above said base, a thinwashertightly engaging said insulation above said'collar, a secondshoulder on the'inner periphery ofsaid case adjacent to said washer andof larger diameterthan said first mentioned shoulder, a rigid washerabove said thin washer'and surrounding said insulation' and resting onsaid second shoulder, and an element engaging the outer face of saidrigid washer and removably attached to said case.

5. In combination, a hollow one-piece openended case ofinsulatingmaterial, a shoulder on the inner surface of said case facing one endthereof, an electric lamp socket base seated on said shoulder, theoutside diameter of saidbase being less than the inside diam eter ofsaid case between said shoulder and said end, a second shoulder on theinner surface of said case facing said end and nearer thereto than saidfirst-mentioned shoulder, a base engaging collar, a member engaging saidcollar and resting onsaid second-mentioned shoulder, and elementsdetachably secured to 'ing material-adaptedto receive an electric lamp"socket base through its upper end, there being a vertically extendingshoulder on the inner wall of said case for engaging a noncircularportion of said base to prevent rotation thereof, there being ahorizontal shoulder on the inner. wall of said case facing said upperend for engaging the lower face of said base to support the same, therebeing a second shoulder on the inner wall of the case and nearer saidend than said first-mentioned shoulder, a washer spaced from said upperend of said case and resting on said second-mentioned shoulder, and anelement holding said Washer and case in assembled relation.

7 As a new article of manufacture, a hollow one-piece open-ended case ofinsulating material adapted to receive an electric lamp socket basethrough its upper end, there being a horizontal shoulder on the innerWall of said case facing said upper end for engaging the lower face ofsaid base to support the same, there being a second shoulder on theinner wall of the case and nearer said end than said first-mentionedshoulder, a Washer spaced from said upper end of said case and restingon said second-mentioned shoulder, and an element holding said Washerand case in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 30th day ofNovember, 1927. HORACE GAMMAOK.

